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The First Stone

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The First Stone by Helen Garner explores the 1990 case of alleged indecent assault at Melbourne University's Ormond College, revealing a complex web of perspectives beyond the media's simplified narrative of innocence versus power. Through over 100 interviews, Garner delves into the intense social debate about sexuality, power, and feminism, scrutinising the justice system and the cultural shifts within a politically charged university environment.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in feminism, social justice, legal studies, and the dynamics of power within educational institutions. It will particularly appeal to those seeking a nuanced, thoughtful analysis of sexual harassment cases and their wider societal implications.

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When two young women students claimed they had been indecently assaulted at a party by the Master of Ormond at Melbourne University, the shock not only split the college and university communities but focused sharply the larger social debate about sexuality and power.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

When two young women students claimed they had been indecently assaulted at a party by the Master of Ormond at Melbourne University in 1990, the shock not only split the college and university communities but focused sharply the larger social debate about sexuality and power.

What the media presented as a head-on clash between outraged innocence and exploiting power becomes, in Helen Garner's book, a much more complex patchwork of versions. In writing The First Stone, Garner interviewed over 100 people involved either directly or indirectly with the case.

The story of this clash and its resulting devastation forces Garner to re-examine her own feminism while taking a critical but compassionate look at what feminism is becoming in the hands of a younger and more puritanical generation.

Garner examines what it means to be accused of sexual harassment, how the justice system deals with this and how an alleged incident grows from hearsay to hellish in the hotbed of a politically correct university that is wrestling with patriarchy and feminism.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780330355834

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 1995

Country: Australia

Imprint: Picador Australia

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 202.0mm

Width: 133.0mm

Height: 21.0mm

Weight: 196g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Helen Garner was born in Geelong in 1942, and now lives in Sydney. Since her novel 'Monkey Grip' appeared in 1977, she has published four more books of fiction and a great deal of journalism. She wrote the screenplay for the feature movie 'The Last Days of Chez Nous'. This is her first non-fiction book.

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